Donald M. Hellinghausen

He was born April 24, 1928, to Kathleen Belkey and William George (“Peck”) Hellinghausen, in Breckenridge, Texas, the youngest of three children. He graduated from Breckenridge High School, where he played football for the Buckaroos. He enjoyed golf and scouting, and achieved the rank of Eagle Scout. He attended the University of Notre Dame from 1946-1950, during which his beloved Fighting Irish never lost a football game. After graduating cum laude with a BS in Business Administration, he served two years in the U.S. Army. He was honorably discharged in 1952, and returned to Breckenridge to work for his father’s oil field supply company, Centex.

In June of 1953, Don met Marjorie Fiehrer in Victoria, Texas, at the wedding of college classmates. He and Marge married in 1954, and settled in Breckenridge, raising a family of 8 children. Don became president of the company upon his father’s death in 1962. In 1969, he relocated his family to Midland, Texas, and established an independent sales agency, the Brecko Corporation.

Don was a very gregarious and caring person. Virtually everyone who knew him considered him a friend. He considered it his personal responsibility to respond to the needs of the poor and homeless. Don was an active member of St. Ann’s Catholic Church and Parish for over 30 years and helped found the Midland chapter of the St. Vincent de Paul Society. He was involved with many civic and non-profit organizations, including the Texas Homeless Coalition, Midland Habitat for Humanity, Midland County Housing Finance Corporation, Midland Housing Association, Neighborhood Housing Services, and Casa de Amigos. March 20, 1998 was proclaimed “Don Hellinghausen Day” by the City of Midland. In 2007, he received the Jefferson Award for Public Service in recognition of his tireless work to address housing issues.

Don is survived by his wife of 60 years, Marjorie; seven of his eight children and their spouses, Mary Schlecht and husband Jim, of Ninnekah, Oklahoma, Michael Hellinghausen and wife Linda, of Dallas, Ann Rusnak and husband Joe, of Midland, Jane Hellinghausen and husband Glen Aaron, of Midland, Elizabeth Zenteno and husband Blas, of Midland, Sara Welch and husband Pat, of Midland, and John Hellinghausen and fiancée Shannon Walker, of Houston; and his 12 grandchildren, Sara Jane Schlecht, Mathilde Hellinghausen, Paul Hellinghausen, Adam Hellinghausen, Michael Zenteno and wife Meghann, Tomas Zenteno, Isabella Zenteno, Elaine Welch, Diana Welch, Luke Welch, Amanda Hellinghausen, and Erich Hellinghausen. He was preceded in death in 2011 by his youngest daughter, Nancy Hellinghausen Brown.

A rosary will take place at St. Ann’s Catholic Church on Friday December 5th at 6:00 p.m. A Catholic funeral Mass will follow on Saturday, December 6th at 11:00 a.m., at St. Ann’s. Burial will be at Fairview Cemetery on Monday December 8th at 10:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to the Saint Vincent De Paul Society of Midland, Midland Habitat for Humanity, or Hospice of Midland.

Online condolences may be offered at www.ellisfunerals.com